Hellobee Boards

I was 41+1 (with a favourable cervix) and I took black and blue cohosh tablets (at the advice of my midwife) to get things started. I took 3 tablets of the black, and 15 mins later 3 tabs of the blue, on and off for an hour. An hour later I was in full blown labour. I've had friends who had success with a castol oil, peanut butter, evening primrose oil smoothie. Good luck!

You asked "I'm not thrilled by either option, honestly, but who would be?" --- ME!

My first induction went so beautifully that I want another! I really liked that it was planned. It relieved a lot of my FTM stress. Knowing I was in the hospital made me feel safe, and made me feel like my baby was in good hands no matter what happened.

I was able to get in and settled before the pain/contractions started. We were able to really enjoy the morning - take pictures, chat, etc. My induction was started with my water being broken, and I loved that I didn't have to clean it up! A little while later I was given pitocin. I chilled on the bed & talked/laughed with my husband and family until the contractions got bad enough that we had to kick everyone out. Shortly after I got the epidural, we let everyone come back and we hung out some more, I got a foot rub, and then I felt like I had to poop. Then... I had a baby! I loved being able to hear her heartbeat all day and know she was okay. I also liked watching the contractions on the monitor - helped me handle some terrible back labor. I didn't mind being in the bed all day... I felt no need or desire to walk around.

Water was broken around 8, pitcoin at 9, epidural at 12:30, first push with the nurse at 5:15, baby in my arms at 5:30. Not too bad for my first.

I had exactly the same stats as you. Was 3cm dilated & 80% effaced at my last appointment, but was up to 4cm the morning of my induction. It was such a lovely, chill day!

I was induced at 40 weeks for high BP (and you probably know some of the details but I'll still share). I wasn't even dilated the day of my induction. My OB started pitocin, within 30 minutes, he upped it to the max amount. I was in pain but an hour later, dilated to a 4 so he broke my water. The contractions were on top of each other and I couldn't catch my breath so I got the epidural at 8cm's.

From the time I started until I was 10cm dilated, 3 hours had passed. Then I labored down for an hour and pushed for 15 minutes. It wasn't a bad experience but if I had the choice, I would have my doctor break my water and see if contractions come naturally. Labor was so much easier the first time when my water broke!!

@photojane: this!

My induction lasted 10 hours with DD1 dr broke my water and started me on pitocin at 8am, epi at 10, fully dilated by 12pm but baby was too high. I labored down for several hours and pushed for 2, baby was born at 6pm. I had such a great experience I also opted to induce with DD2. Pretty much same exact timeline with DD1 except she was low and was out in 2 pushes by 1pm (5 hours total) If we have a 3rd I will also opt for a induction.

For DD1 I was 3cm when I went in and DD2 I was 5cm.

I ended up with hypertension, so they had me on the waiting list for induction for my second (my first came at 39.1, but my second was a stubborn little stinker) my induction kept getting pushed back due to staffing issues at the hospital.

On my due date I was sick all day so went in to get checked and they admitted me, but I had about 2 hours to wait in triage before we could start the induction. Well, I went into hardcore labor on my own right then I had similar stats as yours, 80-90%, 3-5cm, etc.

I asked for the epidural ahead of time, things were manageable, but from my first I knew I didn't want to deal with the contractions after my water broke. I got the epidural at around 8cm and they broke my water and I was pushing within an hour. After 15 minutes of pushing he was out and I had a tiny tear- only because his hand was by his face. For me it was really just dumb luck, but I would have gone with whatever my doctor suggested, since they do this every day and I don't

Good luck!

I wrote my birth story here, but the short version is that I loved my induction! Even though I'd wanted an unmedicated birth. I was only 37 weeks (low fluid) so hadn't dropped or dilated at ALL so it took forever, about 36 hrs total. Started w cervidil, then pitocin for 12 hrs before getting an epidural. Then I went from 4-10 cm in about 5 hrs while taking an amazing nap, lol. Pushed only 40 mins. My water never broke, lo was born en caul!

I was so scared of having the induction, but it went so well! I read so many negative stories, but I couldn't have asked for a smoother process being a FTM. My process probably won't be much help to you since I was closed, no effacement and baby high. I started cervidal overnight, then 2 rounds of cytotec, in the morning. The cytotec began painless contractions on the first round, and real ones as soon as I got the second round. They ended up only giving me Pitocin for 5min bc I went from 1 to 6cm on the cytotec by the time they had planned to start Pitocin. I got an epidural between 6-7cm (had planned to have meds), and went painlessly from 7 to 10cm in about 1.5 hours, pushed for 20min once the doctor finally showed up.

Seriously though, every scary story I read online just wasn't the case for me, and I could only imagine you could start labor with minimal intervention considering your dilation/effacement!

My water broke but I never actually went into labor. I was admitted at a 3 and started straight with a pitocin induction. It was about 12 hours from the start of pitocin to when my LO was born, so pretty quick I think, all things considered. I was really upset about having to be induced but honestly it wasn't so bad. The nurses let me move around to the extent I could with the monitors and IV. I was not eligible for an epidural because of low platelets. I do remember I felt like it took forever for me to get from 3-5cm, and then from 5 to 10 was comparatively quick. I've heard that from both induction and non-induction mamas.

Good luck! I would imagine starting at a 3 means you have a very good shot of a successful induction.

@photojane: I agree, I loved my first induction and felt it was done with good reason. I wouldn't mind at all doing it again!

I had to be induced at 38 weeks due to gestational hypertension and it went really well. I was barely dilated but we started the process with cervical ripening overnight and then pitocin in the morning. My water was broken later in the morning. Baby girl was born vaginally about 12 hours later. I did get an epidural a bit before pushing after laboring on my own most of the day. They were actually surprised at how quickly things went. But I had also gone to acupuncture the day before to help with the induction and I really feel like that made a difference. I think it was a great experience even though it was unexpected.

Wishing you all the best!

I was induced with both children. Both were absolutely wonderful experiences and I would be induced again in a heartbeat.
With DS- I came to the hospital late afternoon, received the Cytotec that evening, had my water broken not long after. Pitocin was also started at some point. Sometime in the middle of the night (I'm not absolutely sure what time, this was 8 years ago) I received my epi. I labored throughout the next morning and had a healthy happy baby at noon!
With DD- I came to the hospital at 5AM, received the Foley balloon about 30 min later, which dilated me to 4cm and broke my water. Pitocin was started around 9AM, I received my epi at 10AM, and birthed a beautiful baby girl at 2:14PM!
I do not regret either induction and would do it again in a HEARTBEAT!

I went to the hospital Sunday night (40+5 - due to low fluid) and received cervidil. Started having contractions over night and then the pitocin started at 8AM monday. I was doing ok until they broke my water around 12, then things got pretty intense. I call it my "dark hour" lol. But then I got the epidural at 1, was only at 3cm and from 1pm-4pm I went from 3cm to them checking me and her head was right there. I know the epidural sometimes slows things down but in my case, I think it helped me relax so it sped up the process. By the time they got me all ready to go, it was 4:20...pushed for 20 minutes and she was out. all in all, it was a pretty positive experience.

I was induced at 41 weeks as a FTM. I was only 50-60% effaced and maybe a finger tip dilated. Cervidil overnight (didn't do much) and they started pitocin at 7:30 am and broke my water at 8am. It was terrible until about noon when I got my epidural (only 2 cm).

Had a few problems with her heartbeat but once they figured out the side she liked and gave me oxygen on and off everything was fine.

Went from 2cm to almost complete (a lip) between noon and 4/5pm. She was still a little high so they let me labor down from 6-7:20. Started pushing (my contractions stayed 5 minutes apart after re-setting my pitocin at noon) and she was out at 8:40.

So about 13 hours total from the start of pitocin/contractions. I wasn't a fan of all the monitoring and being hooked up to everything on the planet but overall things went smoothly.

Since it's your 2nd and your cervix looks great I imagine it will go very well for you.